Houthis plan to charge ships for passage through Bab el-Mandab strait

Pro-Iranian Houthi rebels are considering imposing tolls on ships passing through the Bab el-Mandab strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, Reuters reported. The route is critical for Europe-Asia trade via the Suez Canal. Shipowners who refuse to pay would face the costly alternative of sailing around Africa.